VBdenny

Yeah Todd, the chrome MB's do look cool. Hey, when I was at the dealers yesterday, they have a parts botique (Bo-Teek). In it, they had some nice looking Lexus wheels on display. Chrome, and with the "L". They had a PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH sign on them. They also had a bunch of fingerprints on them. Now they have one more.... I guess Crager SS's are out of the question huh.

Yes Matthew, I will do that. VMF please don't think I let them touch my car, not gonna happen. All they want is money while they are giving you free coffee and big smiles. No, I went over to get the printout for my car, not to let them stick theirt hand in my pocket. It is unfortunate that Lexus doesn't have a clue. If they offered quality service at a fair and reasonable price, Lexus would be the premier car in the world. Instead, most people will shy away from a Lexus simply because they know they will get screwed for any service. In essence, a Lexus is worth LESS than it should simply because people are afraid of the repair costs. You can almost see them drool when you come in for service. In addition, I'm not convinced that they are that good either. I mean, leaving off the underbody splash shield at the dealer??? Please! Yeah, I'm cranky

I went over to the local Lexus dealer in Virginia Beach (where my car was originally purchased) and requested the service records. They happily complied. I got a long printout of the service. I think it;'s hard to decipher as some of the stuff seems to be cut off. I was quite happy to see that the timing belt had been changed at 90,000 and it looked as if the waterpump was as well. I also asked them for some license plate screws which they GAVE me. I met another guy from NC who just bought a 1990 LS400 and gave him the site address, then e checked out each others cars. Luckily for him, it looked like a fresh power steering unit. Unlike mine, he had traction control and air suspension. I know he is going to enjoy his Lexus.

Thanks for the fix. Strangley enough, it happened right after I updated my windows critical updates so I thought maybe something had happened on this end. I also just discovered another interesting thing with the gallery pictures. By clicking on the enlarged picture, it gets even larger.

Hey now, we can't have people driving a Lexus around with oil smoke coming out the pipes. That makes all of us look bad. Synthetic oil is not very likely to reduce your oil consumption but it might be better for the environment. Try the Restore, I swear it works!

For some reason when I click on the thumbnail picture in the gallery, no picture comes up now. Is it my computer? It has always worked fine before. I know, I know, I'm probably in the wrong forum. Sorry.

Naw, I still think it is the connection. When window motors break they break. Sometimes when it's more humid they work better with a bad connection. Soemtimes the vibration causes the connection to reconnect. It's been my experience that people slamming the door causes all kinds of sh... stuff to loosen up. I've never understood why people have to slam car doors!

I run 34 PSI in all tires. Most manufacturers the optimum tire pressure, but it is a matter of preferrence as they aren't always right. For example, Ford recommended a tire pressure for Explorers and it was to low which caused the tires to heat up and blow. They they flipped over and people got kilt. Higher pressures give a harsher ride, but it's safer, the tires last longer, and you get better milage. Most new tires all can take 35 PSI or more.

I buy my Premium at Costco when I'm in Norfolk, and at the Caldwell Gass Stop when I'm in NJ. I think gas is gas. I have read that the oxygenated gas really drops your gas milage significantly. Perhaps a 400 could get 28 MPG if you were on a long straight highway and you kept your speed below 75 but neither is gonna happen much for me. Having driven around Brooklyn many, many times, I know what VMF if talking about. Let's just say that it's much different from anywhere else. Cars are double parked, triple parked, and sometimes just left where they stop.

Hey Todd, I'd have to vote for the TSW Q5 as well. Not only are they the coolest looking, they also look like they would be the easier to clean. Your Lex will look sweet!

88 and 33 thanks for the help let me know what it means... I have the shop/repair manual for the '91 LS400. Here's what I've found. code 33 = 1> Open in air mix damper position sensor circiut 2> Open or short in air mix servometer circuit 3> Air mix servometer locked. Hey Todd, do you happen to have any information on what or where the air mix servometer is? I'd kinda like to be forwarned before I get into this thing. Thanks Denny

Thanks Spiller, uh yeah, I did check it in the garage. I'll try it outside, I still have the 33 which someone said is a sensomatic. Lexus dealer blamed it on a compressor lockup, but I never heard noise or had the a/c light blink. Think they were wrong? Denny

While many of us would be capable of changing a compressor, the replacement of the "O" rings and flushing the system is beyond our scope. I'll assume that when metal particles circulate, the fill the evaporator and condensor as well. It would be helpful if someone who has done this job before would post a detailed, step-by-step description of the procedure. If there is already something posted in one of the mechanical forums, please ket us know. I looked but didn't see anything. My compressor doesn't run, but it never flashes the green light either. Just a code 21 and 33. Thanks

My 400 has 130,000 miles and has had synthetic oil since new. I go a full 3,000 miles without any noticable oil consumption. Oil burning is usually from one of two causes (or both). If the oil is being burning during deceleration, is is probably attributed to the valves. If oil is consumed durng acceleration, it usually involves the piston rings. Neither is good. The only product I have ever found that actually works to limit oil consumption is a product called RESTORE. You may have seen it advertised on TV. I use it in my 1966 Cutlassm which I know ha both bad valves, but mainly weak rings. The Cutlass is so bad that you can actually see the oil smoke behind the car. When I use the RESTORE, I don't see the smoke. Since I'm planning to replace the engine, and I really never drive the car anymore, I'm not concerned. One thing, shake the can for a long, long time before adding. It is very hard to mix.

Luckily my Lesus didn't have a built in cell phone. Cell phones asre good for about two years. Hard wired cell phones are obsolete anyway, I'd just use your regualar phone.

Although I haven't had problems with my Lexus window, on my Caprice the driver's side window sometimes won't work. I pulled out the switch thing (which is probably more complicated on the Lesus) and wiggled the wires and it works again. It is most likely a loose connection because of peiople slamming the door if all the other windows work. In the worst case scenerio, the moter burned out which is a whole nother can of worms.

I'll have to cast my vote for the Maquire's leather wipes as well because they make the car smell.... well leathery. . I tried the Armor All leather wipes and it made my car stink!

Kind of strange. My can just went empty a couple of weeks ago and I looked for it and haven't found any yet. Maybe it got banned or something?

Yeah I use to use purte carnuba but the stuff just doesn't hold a shine. I prefer the insulator wax and it makes the car as creamy smooth as carnuba, plus it really repels water and other dropping things. I can knock most of the bugs off the front with the hose after an evening run..

Sounds like my kind of day Mike. Post in picture in the gallery so we can check it out. Denny

Just wondering what kind of gas milage people get with their LS 400's. It would be nice if you list the year so we can compare that factor as well. On my 1990, I checked in at 24.3 mpg on a 350 mile trip. I was running between 75 and 85 most of the way. I did have several stoplights on the Eastern Shore. Around town I average about 19 mpg, and I rarely "get on it." Premium Fuel is running at around $1.49 a gallon in NJ and $1.55 in VB.

Man, do I feel dumb... I didn't even realise I had an overdrive switch. I noticed it when I was cleaning the interior. What the 'overdrive" is, is 4th gear. When you shut it off, you can only go to third. I would leave it on all the time as it won't effect acceleration until you're well over 100mph. Plus, when you drive in 3rd gear, you will burn a lot of gas.

Yeah, I replaced the rear pads because when the caliper stuck it ate the RR pad. I am picking up a new RR caliper today. Got it for $94 bucks. I was going to put it on today, but... it's raining again. I guess I could change it in the garage but I'd rather do it outside in case I spill brake fluid all over. Plus it gets hot. Very very easy to do brakes on. When I do the caliper I'll take pictures and post. Regards, VBdenny

You sure someone isn't mad at you? Three nails in the same tire in a short time would be a coinicidence. Sorry, but I don't believe in coincidence. The only other suggestion is that you live near (or drive near) someplace where there is building construction going on. Man, construction dudes throw all kinds of junk in the back of trucks and when they hit a bump on the road a bunch of nails go flying out. Just about anything will go through a tire. A guy I know found a 3/8" drive Craftsman rachet in his after he heard a real loud clanking noise.

In our apartment building in NJ, the parking garage underneath has a smooth concrete finish. When you turn on it even at 2 or 3 mph, you get all kinds of tire squeeling. I think it has a lot to do with the finish on the concrete.